Mastère Spécialisé and Master of Science : are anti-crisis weapons ?
These programs provide top-tier specializations which can really upgrade a CV, open new opportunities for young professionals, trigger higher employability and attractive wages.
A recent study by the Conférence des Grandes Ecoles shows that Mastère Spécialisé® and Master of Science programs are “especially well equipped to address the challenges of economic recovery”. That is why they are so successful and as attractive as ever, despite the 2020 sanitary crisis; even more than ever!
For the 16 Mastère Spécialisé® programs and the Master of Science programs emlyon business school is providing, the number of applicants almost doubled over the year. The School was even able to enforce greater selectivity on all these sought-after master programs.
But why such a success? What do these programs consist in, and how do French-speaking and international students feel about their daily life, as their programs are being taught remotely? An interview with Renaud Henrion, Development and Admission Manager, who will also review the numerous grants allocated to students as part of the School’s strong-willed CSR policy.
How was this back-to-school season for the Mastère Spécialisé® and Master of Science programs?
Demand was strong for all our programs. And this, in itself, is already a great satisfaction. September 2020 was marked by notably, the opening of four new programs with professional qualification offering solid future prospects, as they are involved in growing sectors (energy transition, consulting & strategy, logistics, entrepreneurship and innovation).
These programs were created as per requested by future recruiters of each of these sectors, boding very well for the employment rate of our future graduates. These programs are the Mastère Spécialisé® Energy Transition Management in partnership with the engineer school ECAM Lyon, and the three following Masters of Science: MSc in Strategy & Consulting, MSc in Global Innovation & Entrepreneurship and MSc in Supply Chain & Purchasing Management. We are very much satisfied with the number of incoming students this year, as we have between 20 to 50 students in each program. The MS® Energy Transition Management performed especially well, positioned on a targeted market, yet one with high expectations in terms of future talents, able to initiate and support the changes required to go towards a low-carbon economy.
This back-to school season was also marked by the Covid-19 crisis and its consequences. What was the pedagogical impact for participants?
emlyon business school operated its digital revolution long before the sanitary crisis occurred, based on a hybrid format of teaching mixing face-to-face and remote courses very early on. This experimentation of digital and face-to-face is essential to us, as we believe that online and offline approaches are interconnected. It guarantees a high quality learner’s experience with a massive implication of the staff, the directors and academic managers. Today, the entire ecosystem of emlyon continues to be committed to address these difficult times.
Following the various sanitary measures and for everyone’s safety, all business schools had to adapt and go full digital. In September, students were thus offered the possibility to choose to start courses remotely or face-to-face. We had already implemented the necessary tools and the transition was achieved effortlessly.
The possibility to take online courses was a relief for all our learners, especially those outside of France who had difficulties obtaining a Visa. These students who account for a large part of our intake, were able to start taking courses from home, and will not be behind in their programs.
This year, with the arrival of Isabelle Huault as president of the Executive Board of emlyon business school, the School made it clear that its CSR policy (Corporate Social Responsibility) was now one of the central axis of our strategy. What does it mean
Today, all our programs involve CSR-oriented modules and contributions. This is absolutely necessary to address tomorrow’s issues, to develop one’s employability and to know how to grasp the new models that are developing.
Our ambition is also to promote diversity and inclusion via three types of referring grants students may apply to, to enter our master programs:
- The Early Bird grant. Providing a discount of up to 15% on tuition fees. Applications are opened every year in November, and many students, especially international students, have access to this discount allowing them to make up for additional logistic expenses.
- Academic excellence scholarships. To apply to this scholarship, students need to provide a Tage Mage or GMAT score upon program application. Depending on their performance, they can achieve a 10 to 15% discount off the tuition fees.
- Individual grants or “social diversity” grants. Students need to request this grand by laying out their needs. The admission jury will not only assess applications, but also the grant request form. The School is particularly keen on developing diversity, this grant is therefore meant to promote diversity and inclusion: allowing for socio-cultural-mixed and gender-equal populations in our programs.
All these financial aids are cumulative, allowing some students to cover up to 50% of their tuition fees.
More than 40% of our students today are allocated one or several grants, for a global amount of several millions of Euros, making our School one of the most generous in France in this area.
What are the new programs to come in the portfolio of Mastère Spécialisé® or Master of Science programs?
In parallel to the energy and environmental transition, recruiters are suggesting that we develop new skills relative to cyber-security and resilience.
That is why we are opening in September 2021, an English-taught program called MSc in Cyber Security and Defense Management, as an answer to a strong demand from recruiters who will need competent collaborators, able to adapt to new digital issues, to crisis situations, and who can actually anticipate.
This program will allow students with technical background coming from engineer schools to acquire a double competence in management and, for students with a generalist background (eco-management, law and political science) to gain more technical skills.
This highly sought-after double competence will give them optimum employability. Companies supporting us in designing this new Master of Science are positive: such profiles are scarce, and job opportunities are a great many. Applications to the MSc in Cyber Security and Defense Management just started so we can welcome our first participants on September 2021. For the opening of this program, application fees are for free. Contacts: Thomas CAPPELLI, Higher education recruitment advisor, cappelli@em-lyon.com
